February 18, 2020

South Africa lifts two-month ban on livestock auctions caused by food and mouth disease

Thoko Didiza, South Africa's Agriculture Minister said farms affected by food and mouth disease will continue to be quarantined, while future livestock auctions require permits and documentation, reported Reuters.

The imposed ban followed a foot and mouth disease outbreak in Limpopo end 2019, which has stopped cattle, sheep and other livestock trade.

An auctioneer, suspected of violating the ban, was arrested in January 2020. The auctioneer was selling the livestock from the northern province of South Africa, the heart of the foot and mouth disease outbreak that has resulted in neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe to ban livestock imports from South Africa.

South Africa continued to export livestock to China and Middle East, key markets which make part of the 81 billion ZAR (~US$5.44 billion; 1 ZAR = US$0.067) annual value for the country's livestock auction industry.

Foot and mouth disease was detected in South Africa on November 2019 after a previous outbreak back in January 2019.

-      Reuters